Tilt table



A. C. NELSON Aug. 30, 1932.

TILT TABLE Filed Nov. 1, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor H. 66095. Ali 150A HTTUPNEV Patented Aug. 30, 1932 umrrzn STA ALBERT enemies transom- 0F rnusnms,

New Yon-x-AssrGN'on, BY Mnsnn ASSIGN- nsms,- m wssnnano se X -RAY COMPANY, mo, A CORPORATION or DELA- TILT Application filed November invention relates. to tilt tables and has particular reference to that type v of tables commonly used in'X -ray and fluoroscopic examinations wherein the table may assume any position from'below a horizontal, which is-knownto the artas the Trendelenburg p0 sition, to a full vertical position. v p Tilt tables-of this generalcharacter, known in the prior art are usually constructedto be 1 operated by hand or, when operated in any other manner, must assume definite fixed positio'ns atpredete'rmined angles. Counter weights have, heretofore, been provided to counterbalance the weight of the table inits movements about its pivot and means are usually provided to lock the table'in limited positions; I

It is accordingly an objectof my invention to provide a tilt table that may be automatically moved to any desired position about arplurali-ty of transverse axes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a tilt table wherein the necessityfor a counterweight is dispensed with and in which the table remains in" the desired position without locking, until altered'by the operator; V 7

Further objects'of my invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein; s

Fig. 1': is-raj side view in elevation of my device showing the table tilted in various positions;

Fig. 2 isha n end view of my device with partofthe'structure broken away to more clearly illustrate the mechanism;- and Fig. 3 is alse ctional View showing in detail one of my swivel housings containing the guiderolier for thegear -racks.

Referring now to the drawings in detail I'have'shown' a main base comprising standards1*and2 which are connected together by meansiofafbase member 3; Angular brackets rand 5*-extend f-rom'thebase member to the standards, for thepur'pose of strengthening the-structure, and are rigidly secured there- 'to,'zin:as1iitab1e:manner,;such as cap screws 6.

Thestandards, near their upper ends, form v a forked portion of substantially U shape'to TABLE .1, v1930. Serial No. 492,701.

whicha table 7 is fu lcrumed at twotransverse axial points. i The table 7 is positioned upon the-standards so that the center thereof approximates the center of the standards, thus equalizing the. weight. The table is fulcrumed at 8 to one side of the center thereofto permit movementin one direction to below 2 horizontal or into'the Trendelenburg posi tion. v

Another'fulcrum point 9,. positioned the opposite side of the center from the axial point 8,-upon the other portion' of the fork, is provided to allow movement of the table about this axis 'to a vertical position. As illustrated in Fig. movementof the table 7, in a counter-clockwise direction about the axis 8,-moves the tableinto the Trendelenburg position, while movement about the axis 9, in a clockwise direction permits movement into the vertical position. p p p .1

c An electric motor 10 is secured in the usual manner to the base member 3 and is arranged to drive a shaftr11,.by means of a worm 1 2 andworm-gear'13. A I, s I

The shaft 11 is journaled suitable bear ring-brackets l iwhich are also secured to the base member 3. Pinionge ars 15 and 16 are secured to each end of the shaft 11v for rotation therewith and engage gear racks 17 and 18. These racks are pivoted, at theirupper ends19 and 20 to the table? and are maintained in mesh with the pinion gears 15 16, by suitable means, such as rollers 21 within swivel housings 22 and 23 (see A stop 2 is affixed to the free end of the gear racks to prevent novement ofthe racks out of the swivel housings when the table is moved to below horizontal or the Trendelenburg position. The worm andworm-gear,t0- gether with the shaft, racks and pinions, constitute a speed reduction gearingwhich may be proportioned, relative to the speed of the motor, to give-the speed at which it is desired to movezthe table.

An electric switch 25 is secured to the base member '3 and is controlledby means of a winged foot pedal 26, secured to one end of a shaft 27. A cam collar 28, provided with oppositely tapering ends, is rigidly secured to the shaft 27 at a point in axial alignment with the worm 12. A brake drum 29 is secured to the shaft of the motor 10 and is in turn surrounded by a brake band 30.

This brake band is provided with lugs positioned each side of the cam collar and coil springs '31 and 32 are disposed between these lugs and fixed collars 33 and 34. These springs tend to bias the lugs toward each other thus contracting the brake band about When the pedal is depressed in either direction'the cam collar 28 is rotated with the shaft 27, so that the widest portion thereof contacts'the lu s and expands the brake'band 30 against the ias of the springs 31'and 32. After the table has moved to the desired posi tion the operator returns the winged pedal 26 to the horizontal or Oflt' positlon. This movement'again brings the narrowest portion of the cam collar 28 int'o'contact with the lugs thus allowing" the biasing effect of the springs 31 and 32, to contract the brake band 30 around the drum 29 preventing any coastin of the table. I

In this manner the brake is always applied except when the switch is moved to the On position and the table is maintained at the'desired angle by the speed reduction gearing and the brake band. I

It can thus be seen that I'have provided a tilt table that is simple in construction wherein the necessity for a counterbalance is dispensed with and which can be automatically moved and maintained in any desired position' from the Trendelenburg to a vertical position. f

Although I have shownand described one specific embodiment of m invention I do not desire to be limited 1: ereto as various other modifications of the same may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the appended claims.'

Whatis claimed is:

1. Ina tilt table, a pair of standards, a rotatable table top "fulcrumed to revolve about two transverse axes extending between said standards, an electric motor for moving said table top, an electric switch for operating said motor in two directions of rotation, said motor when operated in one direction rotating said table top about one of said fulcrum points and when operated in the other direction rotating said table top about the other of said fulcrum points.

'2 V Lambs top about one of -said fulcrum points and I when operated in the other direction rotating said table top about the other of said-fulcrum points.

3. In a tilt table, a pair of standards, a rotatable table 'topifulcrumed to revolve about two transverse axes'extending between said standards, an electric motor for moving said table top, mechanism connectingsaid motor to said table top, an electric switch for operating said motor in two directions of rotation said motor when operated'in one direction oi rotation operatln said mechanism to -rotate said table top about one of said fulcrum points, and when operated in I the opposite direction operating said mechanism to rotate said table top about the other'o'f said fulcrum points." g

4. In a tilt table, a pair of standards, a

rotatable table top fulcrumed to revolve about two transverse axes extending be tween-said standards, an electric motor for moving saidtable top, speed reduction gearing connecting said motor to said table top, an electric switch for operating said motor in two directions of rotation, said motor when operated in one direction operatin said speed reduction gearing to rotate sai table top about one of said fulcrum points and when 0 erated in the opposite direction operating t e speed reduction gearing to rotate said table top about-the other of said fulcrum points. v i a 5. In a tilt table, a pair of standards a rotatable 1 table top fulcrumed to revo ve about two transverse axes extending between said standards, an electric motor for moving said table top, an electric switchfor operating said motor in two directionsvof rotation, said switch upon: depression in-one direction operating said motor to rotate said table top about one of its'fulcrum' points, and operableupon-depression in'the 0 pc site direction to'rotate said table'top'a out the'other of said fulcrum points. 5 f a 6. In a tilttable, apair of standards, a rotatable table top-:fulcrumed to revolve about two transverse axes extending between said'standards, an electric motor for moving said table top, speed reduction gear.- ing connecting said motor to saidrtable top, an electricswitch for operating said motor in two directions'of:rotation, a brake operably associated with said 7 switch, said switch when operated to rotate said motor in either 7 direction of rotation simultaneously releasing said brake.

7. In a tilt table, a pair of standards, a rotatable table top fulcrumed to revolve about two transverse axes extending between said standards, an electric motor for moving said table top, mechanism connecting said motor to said table top, an electric switch for operating said motor in two directions of rotation, said motor when operated in one direction, rotating said table top about one of said fulcrum points and when operated in the other directlon, rotating said table about the other of said fulcrum points, and a brake associated with said mechanism and said motor, and operable by said switch, to prevent coasting of the table top and motor.

8. In a tilt table, a pair of standards, a rotatable table top fulcrumed to revolve about two transverse axes extending between said standards, an electric motor for moving said table top comprising a wormcarried by said motor, a shaft, a worm-gear carried by said shaft and meshing with said worm, gears carried by each end of said shaft and encased inswivel housings, gear racks pivoted at one end to said table top and passing through said swivel housings, rollers in said swivel housings and a stop carried by the free end of said racks to maintain the racks in mesh with said gears, and an electric switch for operating said motor in two directions of rotation, said motor when operated in one direction operating said gear racks to rotate said table about one of its fulcrum points and when operated in the opposite direction operating said gear racks to rotate said table top about the other of said fulcrum points.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 22nd day of October 1930.

ALBERT CHARLES NELSON. 

